Astronautical and Aeronautical Events of 1962 - NASA's History Office

ASTRONAUTICAL AND AERONAUTICAL EVENTS OF 1962 23
February 26: In NAS lecture for Voice of America broadcast, Dr. Joseph
W. Chamberlain of the University of Chicago’s Yerkes Observa-
tory predicted that space-age research techniques may soon pro-
vide final answers to questions about the aurora that have eluded
IhYsica1
scientists for centunes. “Better understanding of
processes producing the aurora,” he said, “should allow t e spec-
troscopist to derive even more information from his observations
of the auroral spectrum about the physics and chemical processes
in the high atmosphere.” He suggested that space probes may
detect auroras on other planets which will provide an entire new
set of data different from terrestrial phenomena with which to
test hypotheses for auroral bombardment mechanisms.
Technical dficulties with third stage of Thor-Delta booster post-
poned launchin of Os0 satellite at AMR.
Senators Estes $?et auver and Wayne Morse proposed legislation
calling for a government-owned corporation to operate space
satellite communications network.
Soviet representative at the United Nations, Valerian A. Zorin, told
a news conference that the U.S.S.R. would cooperate with the
U.S. and other member nations of the U.N. Committee on the
Peaceful Uses of Outer Space meeting on March 19. Zorin said
that he hoped that the committee would be able to agree on a
work program for “mutually beneficial and advantageous
coopera tion. ”
Februa 27: NASA Administrator Webb introduced Robert R. Gilruth
an? Astronauts Shepard, Grissom, and Glenn to NASA Head-
quarters’ personnel assembled in FOB No. 6, Washington.
0 House Committee on Science and Astronautics began hearin s on
$3.7-billion NASA authorization request. Administrator $ebb,
Robert R. Gilruth (Director MSC), and Astronauts Glenn, Gris-
som, and Shepard ap eared as witnesses.
Mr. Webb outline a NASA’s projected pro am to be covered in
detail in subsequent testimony: (1) tota Y ten year program
ahead may cost over $35 billion; (2) new astronaut trainin program
to include scientists will be announced shortly; (3) f uture
manned spacecraft will be capable of landing on land or water;
(4) NASA is opposed to using astronauts as goodwill ambassadors,
as they are needed on the current program; (5) 92% of NASA’s
budget will be spent through industry and universities.
Astronaut Glenn pointed out that the Nation “must be pre-
pared” for failures in future manned space flights. “We don’t
envision every flight,” he said, “coming back as successfully as
the three we have had so far . . . I hope we will always have the
confidence in the program that we now have despite the fact
there will be times when we are not riding a crest of happiness
and enthusiasm as we now are.”
NASA witnesses appeared before the Senate Committee on Aero-
nautical and Space Sciences hearings on communication satellites
system. Deputy NASA Administrator Dryden stated that the
U.S. would have operational satellite communications within
five years.
USAF DISCOVERER xxxvzIi launched into orbit with undisclosed
payload.